Atlas stopped screaming and continued to stare at me. “I did?”
I nodded. “Yeah, Lucien said he would come by and pick it up… I didn’t think he really meant it. He must have snuck into the house. That’s kind of weird…”
Atlas stared at me and then around the room. “W-what am I doing here? How did this happen?”
“Do you not remember anything that happened last night? Like anything at all?”
He scratched his head, and then his eyes widened. “I do not!”
I threw my head back. “Pretty sure you do if you are giving me that reaction.”
His eyes widened in horror. "Night curse me, was I bouncing all over the place?" He scrambled out from under the coversand began pacing the bedroom floor. Each heavy footfall made the floorboards creak. If Harlow was downstairs, she'd definitely be getting the wrong idea about what was happening in my bedroom right then.
“Not that bad.” I waved my hand nonchalantly. “You danced around, fluttered those outstanding mechanical wings…”
“I hugged you! I got to feel your… your…” He pointed to my boobs that were fortunately covered this morning in a large black t-shirt. The knee-high socks made him do a double take, and that heavy smell of pine and damp earth filled the room.
Panties were soaked.
He took a breath in, his dark hair moving on top of his head until it was almost standing up straight.
Are his antennae doing that?
I cleared my throat. “You okay, Atlas?”
He continued to breathe slowly, when a heavy knock at the door sounded. “I’ve brought sustenance!” Harlow chirped.
Saved by the knock.
Atlas watched me as I walked to the door. He didn’t take his eyes off me, staring at me up and down. His human nose flared, and more of that scent invaded the room.
If he doesn’t stop doing what he’s doing with the scent thing, he would have to give my IUD a high five.
Harlow walked in without a second knock. She nudged my body with the large tray and handed it to me. “Atlas, how do you feel this morning? Any headaches?”
Atlas rubbed the back of his head. “Ah, no. Thankfully.”
Harlow planted her hands on her hips, pancake flour dusting her apron, and a streak of blueberry smeared across it like war paint. "Those patches stuck all over you; what were they? Gideon spent the entire ride back picking them off you like you were some kind of human sticker book."
Atlas visibly swallowed. “Lucien gave them to me; I don’t really know.”
Harlow clicked her tongue. “I can see him doing that. He seems like trouble. Anyway, if you guys want more, let me know.” Harlow pranced out of the room and slammed the door.
Atlas stared at the door a while longer. “Did she just call the mayor by his first name? I didn’t think he let everyone do that.”
I sighed. “Yes. I think they like each other.” We both made a face of disgust.
We stared at the door for a moment. Harlow had made pancakes, but a colorful array of fresh fruit dominated the plate. Clever girl—she must have figured a "moth" would prefer the sweet stuff.
I set the tray on the bed and motioned for him to follow. He hesitantly sat down, the bed dipping low from his weight. I filled his plate and handed it to him before I began my own.
I watched as Atlas cautiously poked at the blueberries with his fork, his eyes darting between me and the food as if he were trying to solve a puzzle. It was kind of adorable, seeing this big, burly guy reduced to uncertainty by a plate of pancakes.
"You know, it won't bite you," I teased, taking a bite of my breakfast. "Harlow's cooking is actually pretty good."
Atlas looked up at me, his blue eyes meeting mine before quickly shifting back to his plate. “I don’t usually like to eat in front of other people.”
It dawned on me that the glamor he had and his true form wouldn’t match up. Yet, I needed to play this off like I had no clue that he was a Mothman.
